Throughout history, control over language has often mirrored control over people.
Every phrase reveals a balance of power, reflecting who is permitted to define reality and who must live within those definitions. Those who determine what can be said, and how, also shape what can be imagined or believed.
This dynamic becomes especially visible when considering the experiences of women whose voices have been marginalised or distorted by systems of power.
Language is not just a tool for communication, but a vessel of power, identity, and resistance. The words we use to describe ourselves and others shape our realities, influence our perceptions, and define our place in the world.
For women, especially those who have experienced abuse, reclaiming language becomes an act of profound resistance on one part, and a way to dismantle the narratives that have silenced them, on the other part, to assert their autonomy.
In speaking or writing their own words, they challenge the distortions imposed by others and begin to reconstruct a sense of self on their own terms. Each word reclaimed, each story retold, becomes a step toward reinhabiting a voice once taken from them.
Language in this sense becomes the tool for a quiet but radical declaration that their experiences, identities, and truths cannot be defined by the violence they have endured.
What Is in a Name?
In many cultures, the act of naming is sacred. To name something is to call it into being, to give shape and meaning to what might otherwise remain undefined.
In the Bible, for instance, Adam’s naming of creation in Genesis 2:19 is more than a simple act of cataloguing the elements of nature. It is an assertion of authority and recognition, an act that binds language to identity.
Across traditions, from creation myths to ancestral rituals, naming has carried the weight of power, belonging, and existence itself. This concept underscores the universal truth that naming is an act of power.
When women are denied the right to name their experiences, their bodies, or their stories, they are denied agency and visibility. Conversely, when women reclaim language, they reclaim power. To define, to testify, to exist on their own terms.
Language as a Battleground
Language is not neutral. It reflects and reinforces the soul of a society, such as its values, histories, mores, and even power structures, including gender hierarchies. Scholars argue that the language used in media, literature, and everyday discourse often confines women to narrow identities, portraying them in limited roles such as victims, caregivers, or objects of desire—while neglecting their complexity, intellect, contradictions, and agency.
This linguistic marginalisation contributes to the broader cultural erasure of women’s experiences and identities.
For women who have endured abuse, language becomes a battleground. The words used to describe their experiences—terms like “victim,” “survivor,” or “broken”—can either empower or further oppress. Reclaiming these terms, or choosing new ones, allows women to redefine their narratives on their own terms, challenging the dominant discourse that seeks to define them.
The Role of Social Media in Rewriting the Gender Narrative
In the digital age, social media platforms have become arenas for linguistic resistance. Hashtags like #MeToo and #TimesUp have provided women with a collective voice to share their stories, challenge perpetrators, and demand accountability.
These digital movements illustrate how language can be mobilised to disrupt entrenched power structures and to foster solidarity among women across the globe.
However, the power of language in social media is double-edged. While it offers a platform for resistance, it also exposes women to online harassment and abuse through the prevalence of misogynistic language in online spaces.
Reclaiming Language, Challenging Norms, and Empowering Women
Reclaiming language is not just about altering words. It is also about challenging the norms and structures that those words uphold. Experts advocate for the use of inclusive and gender-neutral language to dismantle patriarchal norms and promote equality.
This includes recognising the intersectionality of women’s experiences and adopting terms that identify the diversity of women’s experiences and identities, and rejecting language that perpetuates stereotypes and discrimination.
The act of reclaiming language is an act of empowerment, as it allows women to assert their identities, challenge oppressive narratives, and create new spaces for expression. By being mindful of the language used and the stories told, women can contribute to a culture that values their voices and experiences.
